Systems and methods for battery charging and management

• US 9,997,933 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel, Gale, Vannin, Sadek, Kerloss
• Primary Examiner(s): Rossoshek, Helen
• Application Number:
  US14/843,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20160064962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A charging device can include an input interface for receiving electrical power from a power source and an output interface for outputting electrical power to a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include a supplemental battery. A bypass electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the output interface to pass electrical charge from the power supply through the charging device to the mobile electronic device. A charging electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the supplemental battery. A discharge electrical pathway can couple the supplemental battery to the output interface. The bypass electrical pathway can include a voltage modifier configured to modify the voltage output by the output interface. The charging device can be configured to empirically determine the power capacity of the power supply. The charging device can monitor temperatures and/or battery health information, which can be used to reduce current or disable the charging device.

Claims

1. A method for determining a power output capacity of a power supply using a charging device that is configured to charge a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving electrical power at a charging device that comprises;

a supplemental battery;

an input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply;

an output interface configured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device;

a controller;

a charging electrical pathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge the supplemental battery;

a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, along the discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device; and

a bypass electrical pathway from the input interface to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device;

directing a first amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery;

determining a first voltage associated with the first amount of current;

determining that a threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the first voltage for the first amount of current;

directing a second amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, wherein the second amount of current is higher than the first amount of current;

determining a second voltage associated with the second amount of current;

determining that the threshold is not satisfied based at least in part on the second voltage for the second amount of current; and

determining a power output capacity of the external power supply coupled to the input interface based at least in part on the determinations that the threshold is satisfied by the first amount of current at the first voltage and that the threshold is not satisfied by the second amount of current at the second voltage;

wherein the threshold is a threshold voltage value; and

wherein determining the power output capacity of the external power supply is based at least in part on the first amount of current multiplied by the threshold voltage value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the supplemental battery with one or more additional current amounts that are between the first amount of current and the second amount of current;

measuring one or more additional voltages provided by the external power supply when charging the supplemental battery at the one or more additional current amounts; and

determining that the threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the one or more additional voltages for the one or more additional current amounts.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the power output capacity of the external power supply comprises calculating a percentage of the first amount of current multiplied by the threshold voltage value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined power output capacity is lower than the threshold voltage value multiplied by the second amount of current, and wherein the determined power output capacity is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage value multiplied by the first amount of current.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a first amount of electrical power to send to the supplemental battery for charging the supplemental battery and determining a second amount of electrical power to send to an output interface for charging a mobile electronic device based at least in part on the determined power output capacity of the external power supply.

6. A charging device for determining a power output capacity of a power supply and for charging a mobile electronic device, the charging device comprising:

a supplemental battery;

an input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply;

an output interface configured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device;

a controller;

a charging electrical pathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge the supplemental battery;

a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, along the discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device; and

a bypass electrical pathway from the input interface to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device;

wherein the controller is configured to;

direct a first amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery;

determine a first voltage associated with the first amount of current;

determine that a threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the first voltage for the first amount of current;

direct a second amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, wherein the second amount of current is greater than the first amount of current;

determine a second voltage associated with the second amount of current;

determine that the threshold is not satisfied based at least in part on the second voltage for the second amount of current by determining whether dV/dI exceeds a threshold value, wherein dV is a voltage difference between the second voltage and the first voltage, and wherein dI is a current difference between the second amount of current and the first amount of current; and

determine a power output capacity of the external power supply coupled to the input interface based at least in part on the determinations that the threshold is satisfied by the first amount of current at the first voltage and that the threshold is not satisfied by the second amount of current at the second voltage.

7. The charging device of claim 6, wherein determining the power output capacity of the external power supply is based at least in part on the first amount of current.

8. The charging device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to determine how much electrical power to direct along one or more of the bypass electrical pathway, the charging electrical pathway, and the discharge electrical pathway based at least in part on the determined power output capacity of the external power supply.

9. The charging device of claim 6, comprising a protective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device.

10. The charging device of claim 9, wherein the protective case comprises:

a back portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a back side of the mobile electronic device;

a right side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device;

a left side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device;

a top portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

a bottom portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device; and

a front opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.

11. A method for determining a power output capacity of a power supply using a charging device that is configured to charge a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving electrical power at a charging device that comprises;

a supplemental battery;

an input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply;

an output interface configured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device;

a controller;

a charging electrical pathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge the supplemental battery;

a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, along the discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device; and

a bypass electrical pathway from the input interface to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device;

directing a first amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery;

determining a first voltage associated with the first amount of current;

determining that a threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the first voltage for the first amount of current;

directing a second amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, wherein the second amount of current is higher than the first amount of current;

determining a second voltage associated with the second amount of current;

determining that the threshold is not satisfied based at least in part on the second voltage for the second amount of current; and

determining a power output capacity of the external power supply coupled to the input interface based at least in part on the determinations that the threshold is satisfied by the first amount of current at the first voltage and that the threshold is not satisfied by the second amount of current at the second voltage;

wherein the threshold is a threshold voltage value;

wherein the determined power output capacity is lower than the threshold voltage value multiplied by the second amount of current; and

wherein the determined power output capacity is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage value multiplied by the first amount of current.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

charging the supplemental battery with one or more additional current amounts that are between the first amount of current and the second amount of current;

measuring one or more additional voltages provided by the external power supply when charging the supplemental battery at the one or more additional current amounts; and

determining that the threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the one or more additional voltages for the one or more additional current amounts.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the power output capacity of the external power supply is based at least in part on the first amount of current multiplied by the threshold voltage value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the power output capacity of the external power supply comprises calculating a percentage of the first amount of current multiplied by the threshold voltage value.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a first amount of electrical power to send to the supplemental battery for charging the supplemental battery and determining a second amount of electrical power to send to an output interface for charging a mobile electronic device based at least in part on the determined power output capacity of the external power supply.

16. A charging device for determining a power output capacity of a power supply and for charging a mobile electronic device, the charging device comprising:

a supplemental battery;

an input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply;

an output interface configured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device;

a controller;

a charging electrical pathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge the supplemental battery;

a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, along the discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device; and

a bypass electrical pathway from the input interface to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device;

wherein the controller is configured to;

direct a first amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery;

determine a first voltage associated with the first amount of current;

determine that a threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the first voltage for the first amount of current;

direct a second amount of current from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, wherein the second amount of current is greater than the first amount of current;

determine a second voltage associated with the second amount of current;

determine that the threshold is not satisfied based at least in part on the second voltage for the second amount of current; and

determine a power output capacity of the external power supply coupled to the input interface based at least in part on the determinations that the threshold is satisfied by the first amount of current at the first voltage and that the threshold is not satisfied by the second amount of current at the second voltage;

wherein the threshold is a threshold voltage value;

wherein the determined power output capacity is lower than the threshold voltage value multiplied by the second amount of current; and

wherein the determined power output capacity is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage value multiplied by the first amount of current.

17. The charging device of claim 16, wherein determining the power output capacity of the external power supply is based at least in part on the first amount of current.

18. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine how much electrical power to direct along one or more of the bypass electrical pathway, the charging electrical pathway, and the discharge electrical pathway based at least in part on the determined power output capacity of the external power supply.

19. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to:

direct one or more additional current amounts from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, wherein the one or more additional current amounts are between the first amount of current and the second amount of current;

determine one or more additional voltages associated with the one or more additional current amounts; and

determine that the threshold is satisfied based at least in part on the one or more additional voltages for the one or more additional current amounts.

20. The charging device of claim 16, comprising a protective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a back portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a back side of the mobile electronic device;

a right side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device;

a left side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device;

a top portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

a bottom portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device; and

a front opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.